George D. (Chip) Cannon, Jr. is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office in the firm's Finance Department and is a member of the Energy Regulatory and Markets Group, the Global Climate Change Group, the Cleantech Group and the Project Development and Finance Group. He concentrates primarily on energy regulatory and market matters, with a focus on the production and delivery of electric energy and related products from wind, solar and other renewable resources. Mr. Cannon has been involved in representations before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, federal courts and state regulatory commissions on behalf of electric utilities, independent power producers, project developers, energy traders and financial institutions. He assists clients in accessing programs administered by the US Department of Energy, including the Loan Guarantee Program and other programs under DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office, and state energy programs. He also regularly assists clients with both the regulatory and transactional aspects of acquisitions, divestitures and financings, as well as the development and siting of new generation projects.
Mr. Cannon has represented clients in a broad range of matters affecting the domestic energy industry, including issues related to transmission open access, the development of competitive wholesale energy markets, the creation of regional entities to administer tariffs and operate bid-based energy markets, and the development and implementation of market rules relating to market power and mitigation. He is familiar with the incentive-based programs associated with the development of renewable energy resources, including various state Renewable Portfolio Standards, and "SmartGrid" technologies, and is experienced in drafting contracts for the purchase and sale of Renewable Energy Credits and other "green" attributes. He is also experienced in energy and asset management issues, including negotiating and drafting management agreements, service agreements, and fuel and power purchase/sale agreements. Mr. Cannon regularly analyzes issues under the Federal Power Act, Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and various state energy industry restructuring statutes.
Mr. Cannon has been involved in drafting proposed energy industry restructuring legislation and regulations for non-US governments, including currently assisting with the design of a rural electrification structure and a framework for a decentralized, off-grid renewable resource program in the Middle East.
Mr. Cannon is recognized as a leading energy lawyer by Chambers USA.
Mr. Cannon's publications include:
Co-author, "US Department of Energy Issues the First Two Title XVII Loan Guarantee Solicitations Since the Enactment of the Recovery Act," Client Alert, July 31, 2009
Co-author, "FERC Imposes New Quarterly and Annual Reporting Obligations on Market-Based Rate Sellers," Client Alert, July 06, 2009
Co-author, "American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009: Update on the Waxman-Markey Climate Change and Clean Energy Legislation," Client Alert, June 15, 2009
Co-author, “Real Promise or False Hope: DOE's Title XVII Loan Guarantee,” The Electricity Journal, Vol. 22, No. 4, (2009)
Co-author, "Key Provisions of the Waxman-Markey Climate Change and Clean Energy Legislation Discussion Draft," Client Alert, April 22, 2009
Co-author, "FERC Takes An Initial Step Toward Establishing A "Smart Grid" Policy," Client Alert, March 30, 2009
Co-author, "Department of Energy Title XVII Loan Guarantee Program: Key Considerations," Client Alert, March 24, 2009
Co-author, "Clean Energy and Electric Transmission Provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009," Client Alert, February 18, 2009.
Co-author, "Certain Clean Energy Provisions of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008," Client Alert, November 25, 2008
Co-author, “A Modest Proposal: A Market-Based Approach to Generation Interconnection Process Reform,” The Electricity Journal, Vol. 21, No. 9 (2008).
Co-author, "Market-Based Ratemaking and the Western Energy Crisis of 2000 and 2001," Energy Law Journal, Vol. 24, No. 2 (2003).
Co-author, "Independent Transmission Companies: The For-Profit Alternative in Competitive Electric Markets," Energy Law Journal, Vol. 19, No. 2 (1998).
“Transmission in Transition,” Legal Times, Vol. XXII, No. 5, Focus on Energy Law Supplement (1999).
Mr. Cannon's speaking engagements include:
"Understanding Energy in 2010: RECs, CERES and Beyond," ALI-ABA Course Study, December 16, 2009.
"Carbon Credits: Risks and Opportunities," ALI-ABA Course Study, Global Warming: Climate Change and the Law, Panel Presentation, April 3, 2009.
"Impact of 'Green' Provisions in the US Economic Stimulus Package," Webcast, March 5, 2009.
"Alternative Dispute Resolution at RTOs, ISOs, and Power Pools," Energy Bar Association Dispute Resolution Committee, Panel Presentation, May 22, 2007.
Mr. Cannon is named as one of the leading energy attorneys in the Washington, D.C. market by Chambers & Partners in its 2008 Global Directory. He was also cited as a leading attorney in the 2007 and 2008 Chambers USA legal guides. Mr. Cannon is a member of the Energy Bar Association. He is fluent in German.